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Rumblings xtra: Items that didn't make print edition

By: Bob Hunter

The Columbus Dispatch - May 10, 2013 09:25 AM

Eddie George is a proponent of more might football games at Ohio State. The former Heisman Trophy winner, appearing in Lima this week at the Ohio State-Lima’s Spring for Scholarships dinner, told the Lima News’ Jim Naveau that night games are the “key to recruiting.

“A lot of kids now, I think they want to play under the lights. When you play those games in the afternoon, you’re not quite awake, they’re not as exciting as night games. You’re not letting the crowd lather up to take full advantage of your home field. I’m definitely a proponent of having more night games because it will attract big-time recruits because you’re playing in prime time.”

Consecutive ninth inning homers by Devin Mesoraco and Shin-Soo Choo that gave Cincinnati an exciting ninth inning comeback win over Atlanta took Reds Hall of Fame broadcaster Marty Brennaman so by surprise that he forgot to end the game with his signature call. . . “and this one belongs to the Reds.”

Brennaman told reporters that radio producer and engineer Dave "Yid" Armbruster let him know as soon as he went to commercial break.

"As I finished the call and went to a commercial break, within five seconds, Yid said, 'Guess what you forgot to say?'" Brennaman said. "When I came back on, I said, 'For those of you who are concerned or about to pick up the phone and call, I forgot to say it. I know I did.' Then I said it.

"I would have never known I didn't say it. I was so caught in the moment. That's the kind of thing that shocks you."

He said that in 40 years, he has probably done that “a dozen times.”

Josh Cribbs remains unsigned less than two weeks before most NFL teams begin their minicamps and the destination of the former Browns star returner remains uncertain, although the NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported this week that the Oakland Raiders have offered him a contract. The New York Jets are another team that is reportedly still interested in him.

Cribbs seemed likely to sign with Arizona at one point, but he hadn’t recovered from surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his knee and the Cardinals opted to draft former LSU cornerback Tyrann Mathieu, who is also a returner. When Cardinals general manager Steve Kein was asked on the team’s official website if Cribbs was off the team's radar now, he said “That’s something we have already explored. At this point, I really can’t get any further into it, so I will leave it at that.”

The Patriots were once an option, but they signed return man Leon Washington. The Browns are prepared to go with Travis Benjamin, a fourth-round pick from a year ago, as their returner.

Tampa Bay and Detroit are two teams still in need of a return man, but there has been no word that either in interested in Cribbs.

Duron Carter, whose Ohio State career lasted all of one year, apparently won’t get a chance to stay with the Minnesota Vikings that long. The Vikings may have invited him to rookie minicamp as a favor to his father, Cris, the former OSU start who is the team’s all-time leading pass receiver, but he apparently didn’t impress the Vikings enough for them to sign him.

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reported that while Carter was among the 34 players who tried out with his father’s former team at the camp, he was among the large group that wasn’t signed. Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com reported that only two of the 34 will be getting roster spots, pending physicals.

The Baltimore Ravens also invited Carter to participate in that team’s rookie minicamp and there’s a chance they will bring him in for an individual tryout. He played only his freshman season at OSU, before being forced to leave for academic reasons. He played the 2010 season at Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College and transferred to Alabama in 2011, but never became eligible there. He transferred against to Florida Atlantic and never became eligible.

Konrad Warzycha, the former Ohio State star who made the Columbus Crew roster this spring after being signed as a free agent, is apparently finding that being the coach’s son has its disadvantages. After being booed by some fans when he was sent in as a sub during the team’s last home game against the New York Red Bulls – who boos a sub, anyway? – the son of Crew coach Robert Warzycha took to twitter to respond a few hours later.

Warzycha tweeted:

"If you're gonna hate, try and find a better reason than my last name #pleaseandthankyou"

The last time we saw Terrell Owens in an NFL regular season game, the wide receiver was playing for the Cincinnati Bengals in 2010. Times have changed for the 39-year-old former star. Owens recently made his semi-pro bowling debut at United States Bowling Congress Open Championships as a member of the Bowlers Journal International squad. He rolled games of 185, 129 and 161.

Owens would still like to revive his football career, but for now, he is also an owner of the Dallas Strikers in the new eight-team PBA League.

Ohio’s Saturday, August 31 college football game with Louisville has been moved to Sunday, Sept. 1, in order to accommodate ESPN. The 3:30 p.m. game featuring Cardinals quarterback and Heisman Trophy candidate Teddy Bridgewater will be broadcast to a national audience.